– We strive not to move children. That is the ideal. But then we work with people’s everyday life, which is unregulated. This is what Christian H. Skrogstad, who is a case manager at the children and family service Østbyen in Trondheim, tells us. He says that the lives of these children and families happen – things appear or change. – We have to do what we have to, based on an assessment of what is in the child’s best interests, he says and elaborates: – When you have a distance from the issues, it is probably easy to think that we have to reduce the number of relocations. But it is something else when you sit on the floor with the cases and have to make these decisions. The children’s ombudsman: – Very seriously news has recently told the story of Markus (17) who was moved between ten institutions – in three different counties. Earlier we told the story of Patrik who moved 14 times before he turned 18. Both children’s ombudsman Inga Bejer Engh and Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe are crystal clear that too many children in child care are moved too often. – There is a far too large group of children today who experience unstable care in foster homes and institutions, with many repeated moves. I think that is very serious, the children’s ombudsman told news. 17-year-old Markus felt uneasy and was constantly in opposition to everything and everyone. Life at the various institutions felt like a prison, he has explained. In the end, Markus ended up setting fire to the institution where he lived in 2021. Child welfare manager: Not good for the children – It is clear that it is negative if a child has to move many times, says child welfare manager Lena Borch Abrahamsen at the child and family service in Østbyen Trondheim. – But some children unfortunately have to be moved – it’s about the fact that it is harmful for children to stay at home. Some children will experience moving several times. At those times, we have not been able to find out what is best for the child, she elaborates. There may also be other reasons, such as violations in a foster home or institution. But Abrahamsen emphasizes that the child protection service, in the vast majority of cases, has good cooperation with the children and parents. Want to nuance the picture Right now 114 children are getting help through various measures from the children and family service Østbyen in Trondheim, says Abrahamsen. – In most of these cases, both the children and the parents want help. Perhaps there are only around 10 cases where there is conflict or resistance – where the parents really do not want offers of help and guidance from us, she says. Case manager Christian H. Skrogstad wishes that it had come out better in the media about how much more they work with the families on voluntary aid measures. – There are actually very few cases of taking over care. But it is these matters that receive the most attention – which is both natural and right. It involves major interventions in people’s lives, he says. Mette Ervik has 30 years’ work experience as a social worker, where she has worked with both adults and children. Everyday life in child care is characterized by good cooperation with the families and the support system around them, says Ervik. Photo: Nareas Sae-Khow / news Wants the children to have a good upbringing with their parents – It is not us in the child protection service who decide in enforcement cases either, it is a court that does that. It doesn’t always come out that well either, says case manager Mette Ervik. Before the vast majority of care takeovers, there are often months, sometimes even years, of support measures, the case managers explain. Most things must have been tried from the child welfare service before taking over care is relevant. – Then there have often also been a lot of messages of concern from emergency services and private individuals, says Skrogstad. – I think that the children who are moved out of their homes should probably do so, says Ervik. But the ideal is for the children to be allowed to live at home and be fine, say the case managers. – Our goal is to ensure that parents and children grow up together. That the children have a good enough upbringing. Not perfect. But a good enough, safe and responsible upbringing, says Skrogstad.
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– Unfortunately, some children have to be moved – news Trøndelag
